Device for placing bag covers over garments



May 26, 1942. D. J. McCARTY 2,284,160

DEVICE FOR PLACING BAG COVERS OVER GA-RMENTS Filed se t'. 11, 1939 ":s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI D. J. MQCARTY May 26, 1942.

DEVICE FOR PLACING BAG COVERS OVER GARMENTS Filed Sept. 11 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOIZN EY Mai 26, 1942. b. J. M cARTY DEVICE FOR PLACI-NG BAG COVERS OVER GARMENTS Filed Sept. 1;, 1959 3 Sheets -Sheet s f! Y M w 5 M a J u M J 0 yr E T N4 2 a 4% p M y y a av 7 ,M f 4 llll L J 0 J 0 a l T w m a Patented May 26, 1942 r DEVICE FOR. PLACING BAG COVERS OVER GARMENTS 1 Daniel J. McCarty, Los Angeles, Calif. I Application September 11, 1939, Serial No. 294,227

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a device that may be used for the insertion of garments into bag coverings.

This application relates to'apparatus of the i type disclosed in copending applications filed in the name of Daniel J. McCarty, Serial No. 139,442, filed April 28, 1937 (now Patent No. 2,182,156), and Serial No. 148,077, filed June 14, 1937 (now Patent No.- 2,226,173), each entitled Device for placing bag covers over garments.

In garment cleaning and pressing establishments, it has now'become the custom to place a paper bag or covering over the garment after cleaning or pressing, and prior to delivery to a customer. Such bags are usually arranged with an open bottom, so that they may be slipped over a garment hung on a conventional clothes hanger. The clothes hangeris usually provided with a hook that can project through a small opening in the top of the bag. I

The act of placing the bag over a garment hanging on a hanger, has been clumsy and time consuming. Especially is this true where the garment is a full-length one; such as a woman's dress, or an overcoat or a suit of clothes.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide. a device that makes it possible to place such covering bags easily over the garment.

It is another object of the invention to make it possible to store a large number of bags in a convenient manner and in a position ready for placing them over garments as desired.

It is still another object of this invention to which is opened at the time it is desired to withsince the scope of this invention is bestdefine by the appended claims. 7

I Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a complete apparatus embodying the invention, the cabinet being shown in section; V

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cabinet, partly broken away, and in open position;

' Fig. 3 is a detail cross section of the cabinet as seen on plane33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the Figs. 5. and 6 are detail sections as seen on correspondingly numbered planes of Fig. 2;

'Fig. 7 is a section as seen on plane l-'l of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are detail sections as seen oncorrespondingly numbered planes of Fi 2;

' Fig. 13 is a detail elevation partly in section of the lower part of the apparatus;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the apparatu V of Fig. 13; and

- Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 are sections'as seen draw a bag, and isautomatically closed upon completion of the act of placing the bag on the garment.

It is still another object of this invention to make it possible, by the mechanism, optionally there is showna form in the drawings accom-' panying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the inven tion; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,

on the correspondingly numbered planes of Fig.

There are provided two stacks of garment bags Wardly extending tab 22. The upper end of each bag converges, and there is an opening 23 immediately below tab 22, formed as a narrow slit,

through which the hook of a garment hanger may pass. 7

Such garment bags are available in difierent lengths to suit various garments. Thus, for example the bags 20 are shown as relatively short,

such as are used for enclosing jackets, short coats, sweaters, blouses and other short garments.

the same, the description of one will suflice forboth.

Thus, thegarment bags 20 are supported at their upper ends by the aid of their tabs 22 through which passes a supporting member 24' The bags 2| are shown as longer and are intended for use with suits and dresses, or

. to accommodate a comparativelylarge number of bags 20, only a few being shown in the 'drawmgs. I

Some means to guard against the bags 29 slipping off the support 24 is. desirable, and a cotter pin 25 may besecured the end of support 24 for this purpose..

In order that one time bags maybe pulled downwardly over a garment and its hanger, provisions are made'for supporting a garment with its hanger immediately below the bags 29. The

structure for effecting this result is illustratediin; Figs. 1, '13' and 14. ,7

To utilize this structure, it is desirablethat the bags 20 be supported atia suificient'height abovethe floor l9 so that an operator in standing V 0 torsion; spring '54 is mounted on shaft 52 between position may be able conveniently to grasp'the bottom of one ofthe bags to'pull it. downwardly.

A structure is provided for supportinggagar' ment hanger 2'! with a garment. 29 thereon in1- mediately below the garmentbags 2'll or2l This supporting structure, includes a pole lli wl' ich carries at its upper end a bracket 28{ .providedwith ahook like extension at one side over; which 7 the garment hanger 21 may be placed-(see Fig. 1)

v 1 Pole 25 is'adapted; tob maintainednormally in theupright position shown inFig. 1. The hanger 21 on which the garment 29 is hungis,

supported at th'top of pole 26 by the aid of bracket 28. In this'position one of the bags, can be pulled over. the garment 29 by pulling the bag. downwardly, tearing its tab 22 ofi the support.

In order to facilitate removal of the garment 29Withits hanger 21 from; pole 2 6,'this pole is pivotally supported as by the aid-of. a; bracket structure 30 (Figs. 1 and 13).

.5 into engagement with lug 39.

retained against stop 4| by means of a latch arm 43 'which'is pivotallysupported on bar 42. A compression spring 44 which engages a downward extension 45 of latch 43 urges the latch This latch is effective to maintain lug 39 against stop 4|, thus holding pole 26 in a vertical position, until released by the operator, in a manner now to be 7 described.

10 Means are provided whereby theoperator may at will Jre'leasethe latch 43;" as byfoot pressure; Thus, a lever carrying a small pedal 5| at its extremity is secured to a shaft 52 pivotally mountedin-arms 34 just above the carriage 33. A Is; lever 53 having a cam surface engaging latch arm 45'is'mounted on shaft 52. The arrangement is such that' downward movement of pedal 5| will causearm 53 to' swing the latch 43 about its pivot and out of engagement with lug 39. A

1ever.53 andoneo'f. arms. 34.. On-e-end:of spring 54lis} attached;tolever 53 and the otherl end to;

lug 551 carriedLby the hub o f. lever 59' against a stop pin. 55 en: the adjacent. arm: 34. (Figs. 14

7 When it isdesired'v to swing pole 28 out. ofits vertical. position,v pedal 5| depressed, swinging '30 latoh43 downwardly out of. engagement w-ithlug 39.- QE'PoIe 2R maythen.be-swungclockwise about pivot. 35 against the force exerted by weight 38.

downwardly-returning the pole-to avertical po- ,s't'Ei'p' 4|,, spring fllurging' latch 43 into; engage- Inent vlgiththelug.39$ and locking-tit against the stop.- 2 t r "For convenience in operation, and as hereto-rbracket r ga ay. include a tar" 4 fore stated, the bags 29 and 2|-shou1d;be'susbent to a triangular 'form, having ahorizontalportion 3l-andanvertical portion 32 adaptedtobe fastened to the wall 40 so that the horizontal portion 3| extendsoutwardly from the. wall; near the floor l9 and' a substantial distance below thebags 20, 2|. A carriage 33 (Figs; 13, 14, 15 and: lisis ida u p rte on b rd-3| and I ar iesa pailj of spaced upwardly directed arms 3 A;

pivot pin 35 extends between" thearms' 34 and. pivotallysupportsa member 36,.providedwith a' socket=3'| -'at its upper end for receiving the pole- 2 6i In this way, the pole is permitted to swingi 7 the bags 29, as indicatedby broken linesiniFi'g, 1..

The garment hanger Zl; and the, garment -29;Ttoy gethenwith the encompassing bag 29 may ,then. be removed from the pole;for delivery ofgthe: garment to a customer. The-bra'cket, structure:

30 forms a permanent installation beneathithe cabinet.

Provisions are made toflensure: of the pole 26to--its initial; .01 vertical, position as soonasIeIeasedby-theoperator; For this purpose,' member 36 is provided with a heavily weighted portion 38- below; the pivot 35.- .To:

a stop 4| supported on carriage 33 by meansjof' an. upright bar 42. When pole 28; returnsfrom tained at asufiicient heightsto'per-mit-their ready manipulation. by an operator standing, pn-the floor .I'Ql! To facilitate loading the bag support 24,. an. elevating andlowering mechanism is pro-- vided, whereby the -support 24. may be lowered toreceive the'bags m; after which it may.- be elevatedlto-it's desired--height.-- i 7 v For this purpose; there is; provided an enclosing cabinetl.66,.best-shown in Figs.1',.2;and 3,1having 5O sides BI and 58 and ftontpaneLfiS;and'supported directly on wall 49 whioh -may formthe back;of

the cabinet. 7 This cabinetservesnot only to provide a supportfon the bags; but keeps them clean and protects. thenr frorn dust and moisture;

, The lowering, and elevating mechanism-in-- cludes a. pulley and; drumdevice ,andacarriage:

, 101 operated-thereby; I This carriage ,supportswat itsupper end-the bag;- support 24.. The support 24 extends through the carriage H1 and is securcd directly tov a bracket 1- on the rear: side =o carriagelfl as by ;amachine screw '12 (see Fig'. 5). Carriage 10. is. guided tor vertical movement by the aid, "of grooved guide. members or. cleats- 13 and "fastened to the inside of side walls-51land V 68 respectively.

' Guidemembers li and Wextend substantialy he entire vertica'l distance-within cabinet 56.

- provided on-to'pof the-cabinet; over whichpasses. maintain the pole in 'the. vertical ,position;;mem'-" a flexible elem'ent semi-as alight rope or cardber has a depending lug 39-, adapted to-engage: 181 One reach'iof cord 18 is att'ached' to bracket: 1L. Whll'el the" oth'er ra'h of I cord 18 is intended tobewoundiorr. aidmmflllocated' near the bott'om pof the CHbiHQtI? Thisidztumiisshbwri in Fig'.. terclpckwise until itenga'gesstop 4|,. jLug 39-gisi'75 8'as having :plntles 'flfi andtfl .jjOurnaIedin'bearQ.

ing members 82 and 83 fastened to the inside surfaces of side walls 61 and 68. Pintle 80 extends through side wall 61 and has a squared end portion 84 adapted to receive a detachable ratchet handle 85 or the like indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Handle 85 provides means for rotating drum 19 in a direction to wind cord 18 thereon and thus raise carriage 10 together with bags 20. To retain the carriage in its elevated position, a ratchet wheel 86 is secured to the end of drum 19 (Figs. 8 and 9) and cooperates with dog 8.1. This dog is mountedon a short shaft or pin 88 which is pivotally supported in the cabinet wall 61, and extends therethrough, having a handle 89 secured to its-outside-portion. The dog 81 is urged by its own weight into engagement with ratchet wheel 86 and thus prevents rotation of drum 19 in a-direction to lower carriage 10. When it is desired to lower carriage 10, the dog 81 is lifted out of engagement with wheel 86 by means of handle 89. This per-' mits the carriage to descend by its own weight.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the carriage 10 may be raised the'required distance to bring the lower ends of the bags to the desired height. Thus bags of different lengths maybe used, and by providing a plurality ofcarriages; such as 10, bags of different lengths may be accommodated in the cabinet. Thus, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a second group of bags 2I, of greater length than bags 20, are shown as supported on a carriage 90, behind carriage 10. This carriage 90 is arranged to be raised and lowered by means of a drum 9|, about which one reach of a cable I is wound. The cable I95 passes over a single pulley I06 on top of the cabinet 66. (Fig. 4) and is secured to carriage 90, all in a manner similar to that just described.

In order to ensure that the bags in each group hang compactly, a bar, as 92, is supported on each carriage as by a bracket 93 (see Figs. 6 and '1) secured at the top of the carriage adjacent the supporting bracket 1I. Bar 92 has a long portion 94 adapted to hang substantially vertically and about half the length of the bags with which it is to be used, as well as a'short right angled portion 95 which engages a hole 96 in the bracket.

Bracket 93 is of inverted U-form, the hole 96 being only in its outer leg and being slotted as indicated at 91. Bar 95 carries a pin 98, which, when bar 94 is vertical, is out of registry with slot 91. By swinging bar 94 to the right (Fig. '7), pin 98 may be alined with slot 91, and bar.95 inserted in hole 95 until the end of said bar encounters the back leg of bracket 93. If bar 94 is now allowed to assume a vertical position, the pin 98 will move out of alinement with slot 91, and bar 92 will be retained in position with its lower portion pressing on the bags (see Figs. 1 and 7.)

With two groups of bags, each separately supported, the lower ends of the bags in each group are spaced apart by an appreciable horizontal distance as indicated in Fig. 1. Since it is desirable that the upper end of pole 26 should be as nearly as possible directly under. the bag which is to be pulled downwardly over the supported garment, provision is made for moving carriage .33 carrying pole 26 toward and away from the wall 40. Thus, referring to' Figs. 13, 14 and 16 it will be seen that carriage 33 is slidably supported on bar 3| and is guided for longitudinal movement thereon by dependinglugs I00, -IOI.

To retain the'carriage 33 in adjusted position, 1

at spring pressed detent I02 .islmounted onbar 42 of the carriage. This detent optionallyengages either of notches or holes I03 or I04.in bar 3|. When detent I02 is in engagement with notch I03, the pole 26 is alined for usewith the outer group of bags 20, as shown. If it is desired to aline the pole with :the inner group of bags'2I, detent I02is raised manually out of engagement with the notch I03,- and carriage 33 shifted inwardly until the detent engages notch I04. To permit access to the cabinet 66 forwithdrawing the bags 20, 2I as needed, the lower part of the cabinet is provided with a closure member I01 (Figs. 1, 2, 11 and 12) which includes a portion I08 cooperating with the front 69 of the cabinet as well as aportion I09 cooperating with thefioor or bottom H0 .01 the cabinet, entirely to close the cabinet when member I01 is in closed position.

When closure I01 is in the open position of Figs.':2, l1 and 12, the lower end of a bag may be readily grasped and'the bag pulled down out ofthe cabinetand over the garment. Or if it is desired to place a new supply of bags in the cabinet, this may be readily accomplishedby'lowering carriage 10 to the bottom of the cabinet.

In order to protect the bags in the cabinet from dust, moisture, etc., it is desirable that closure member I01 be in the closed position except at such times as bags are beingwithdrawn. For this purpose, means are provided urging the closure I 01 to closed position at all times; for example the member I01 maybe outer end pivoted at H6 to the under side offloor I09 near the point where member I01 is hinged. Near the inner end of latch bar H5, a slot H1 is provided through which a supporting screw H8 passes, serving to slidably support bar H5 from the bottom H0 of the cabinet. The innermost extremity of bar H5 is turned up to form a tooth H9; and a cooperating tooth I20 is carried by one arm I2I of a bell crank- I22 pivotally supported on -floor H0. Arm I2I, as shown most clearly in Fig. 11, is disposed at such an angle with respect to'its' axis as to conform to the direction of latch bar H 5. The tooth I20 may project through one aperture. I48 in the floor of the cabinet. The other arm I23 of the bell crank engages a cam I25 carried by a shaft I26, supported at one end by a bearing I21. The cam I25 serves to limit the downward movement of tooth I20 due to the weight of arm I2I.

When closure member I01 is swung to open position (Fig. 11), tooth H9 on bar H5 passes under tooth I20, which has a sloping inner surface. The arm I2I is'thus raised, together with the tooth I20 until tooth H9 has passed beneath arm I2I, when tooth I20 drops behind tooth H9 as shown in Fig. 12. V This prevents member I01 from closing in response to the urge of spring hinges II2.

When it is desired for closure I 01 to close, latch I2I is raised to bring tooth I20 out of engagement with tooth H9, thuspermittingthe.

closure. to swing-.shut in responserto;the-urge:of hinges 2.. "Means .are: providedf whereby latch I2I isso released-by the return. of pole. 26 to its vertical. position; Thus, shaft I 26 extends to about the center of cabinetilt (FigsalI. and 12). where'. it" is; supported in a bearing bracket I28 and carries-crank arm; I 29. .(Figs. 11, 12: and? 13.)

A tension springjl 30-connected between the. bear- 3| provide bearings for a-jrock shaft I (see.

Figs. 13,. 15, 17 and 18.). The'end ofjshaft' I35 adjacent wall carries a cross arm I35,.one.end of which is attachedto cranki I29 by: means: of a light flexible cable or wire I31. A:bar l3& spaced from shaft I35; and. parellel therewith extends from the other ends of. the:;cross arm,.l36 and is shown in this instance as integrally. joined to shaft I35 as by a bend I39:

.Pivotally supported on the rear end of carriage 33 is a trigger IA-I- having an. upstanding arm I42 normally maintained: in-the path. of lug139-by a torsion spring. I431. Trigger li42 also has a rightangle extension I 44' which is1 adapted to engage the under side. of-a bar I45, one end. of which may be convenient ly pivoted onrthe. shaft I46which; carries trigger I4I'. Theother I end of bar I is pivotally and slidably' connected to bar I38 by a link I4'I -,(Fig..17).' .Link I" maybe securedto the end} of bar .I45inanycon-, venient manner as by ascrew I49. When pole- 26-;is swung ,downwardlyl'asr; for example to remove a garment and. hanger. after they have beenlplaced in a bag, socket member 3t is swung upwardly in aclockwisea direction;

from the position of Fig. 13. causeslug. 39 to encounter arm I42-of the trigger MI and swing the trigger in a counterclockwise direction out of thepath of ;the. lug against the force of spring I43; The spring I43-returns the trigger I4I' to its initial position as soon aslug .39 has aasamo the: bottoms of. the bagsare just above the bottom of the cabinet. For convenience in use, it is preferable; that the. bags in the front group be raisedso that their. bottoms; are a short distance, sayabout an inch, higher than the bottoms of the bags in the rear group; as shown in Fig. 1. A suflicient? number of. bags to provide a supply for a considerable period may thus be supported. The door -I.0'|:,may now be allowed to close,. as by a manual downward pull on cable I37. 7

With a. supply of garment bags disposed on their: supports withincabinet 66', the door I01 is normally closed. Whenit is. desired to place a garment withinabag, the door or closure I01 is first. manually opened by, the operator and swung; to its fully opened position in which it. is retained by the. described latch mechanism.

A garment 29;on=a.hanger-21. is thenlsupported' on hook 23 .of ,thelpole '26 which is positioned under the;proper group of bags. by appropriately: shifting carriage 33. As shown, a. relatively 1 short garment is to be placed in a bag,.hence pole 26;is positioned'beneath the short bags 20.

Then-oneof thebags 20- is, pulled downwardly oif .the' support 24, tab 2210f the bag being .torn,

'and' the bag: finally, telescoping over the pole 23 and-garment 29. Pole 26 can now be swung v outwardly and downwardly,. as indicated by the passed. Whenypole- 2B is released;"allowing socket member 33-to, return .toits. initial position; lug 39 again strikes arm I 42, this time swinging trigger I 4-I in a clockwisedirection and causing extension I44 toswingl bar I45 upwardlyabout its support ,on shaft; I46. By means1of connection I41 and bar'il38, this inlturn rotates shaft I35 so as .to vpull cable 131: downwardly. The downward movement of cable I 3-1. bymeans.

of crank I29 rotates shaft I26- together withcam,

I25, raising. latch I20 .joutof .engagementwith tooth II9. The slidingeconnectioniprovidedzbestween link I41 and bar I38 permits thec-arriage 33 to be-moved to alinethe pole: 26- with; either group of bags 20'or 2|}, without disturbing the operation of the cable-release I31.

The mode of operation of the apparatus may now beset forth When it is desired to floa'd either of the supports 24 withv garment. bags,

dotted lines of. Fig. .l to a convenient position forremovingqthexgarment hanger 2'! and .the

garment 29 together with'the enclosing bag from the pole. Upon releasing the pole26, it will return to its vertical position. Just before it reaches the vertical, it operates the trigger :mechanism and releases the latch-holding door HlT'open; The door will thus close, remaining closed'until it is desired to enclose another'garment in a bag when the cycle just described may berepeated.

What is claimed is:

1., In apparatus of the character described, a cabinet having an opening adjacent its lower endgmeansl for suspending one ormore garment bags at their upperends within the cabinet, a closure member for .saidopening, a pole adapted to support argarment hanger and having an ex tremityj that maybe positioned below said bags as an initial position, said pole beingpivotally supportedwhereby the polemay be swung from said initial? position, N and 'means cooperating with-the: pole-andthe closure member and operable upon the return-oi the pole to its initial position for actuating the closure member .to

closed position. I 2;In apparatus of the character described, a cabinet having an opening adjacent its lower end, means for suspending one or more garment bagsat their upper ends withinlthe cabinet, a

closure member for said opening, means resiliently urgingsaid member to closed position,

latchmeans adapted to hold said member open,

a, pivotallymounted pole adapted to support a the door I01 is'open andiisheld in: the position by tooth I20; thedrum 1.901%"91 as the'casei may be .is operated-to lower the carriage, car-5' rying; the support, to; thegbottom. of the cabinet 66. In this position, the-bags are placed-.byrtheaid of tabs 22, on the support 24, after which.- v

cotter pin 25 is inserted. in .thesupport tdprevent their accidental di'splacement. Thekdrumf is. then operated to raise the carriageisotthat'm.

garment: hanger and having an, extremity that may, be" positioned below the bags as an initial positiom; and means cooperating'with the pole and;the latch means and operable upon a movementoffthepole. about its pivot for releasing.

said latclrmeans.

3. ;.In apparatus'of the character. described, a

cabinethaving, anopening adjacent its lower end,j means for suspending one ormore garment bagsat'their upper-ends within the cabinet, a closurelmember. for said? opening, means resiliently .urging said" member to closed position, latclr means' adapted to: hold said member :op'en,

a pivotally mounted pole adapted to support a garment hanger, said pole being so arranged that when it is in a substantially vertical position an extremity of the pole will be positioned below the bags, means tending to maintain said pole in said vertical position, and trigger mechanism cooperating with the pole and the latch means for releasing said latch means and operable only by return of the pole to the vertical position.

4. In apparatus of the character described, means for supporting one or more garment bags at their upper ends, a pole adapted to support a garment hanger, a carriage providing a pivotal support for said pole, means opposing movement of the pole about said pivot, and a support for said carriage, said carriage being slidable on said support whereby the pole may be. positioned optionally beneath different bags.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a plurality of carriages, means for moving the carriages independently in a vertical direction, means supported by each carriage for suspending one or more garment bags at their upper ends, a pole adapted to support a garment hanger, a carriage providing a pivotal support for said pole, means opposing movement of the pole about said pivot, and a support for said pole carriage, said pole carriage being slidable on said support whereby the pole may be positioned optionally beneath different bags.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a cabinet having an opening adjacent its lower end, means for suspending one or more garment bags at their upper ends within the cabinet, a closure member for said opening, means resiliently urging said member to closed position, latch means adapted to hold said member open, a pivotally mounted pole adapted to support a garment hanger, said pole being so arranged that when it is in a substantially vertical position an extremity of the pole will be positioned below the bags, means resiliently urging said pole to said vertical position, catch mechanism to maintain the pole in the vertical position, means to release said catch, and means cooperating with the pole and the latch means and operable upon a return of the pole to said vertical position for releasing the latch means.

support for the pole, means resiliently opposing movement of the pole to swing the garment hanger away from the bags, trigger mechanism operable by the return of the pole to its posi tion below the bags, and means forming a connection between the cam mechanism and the trigger mechanism whereby actuation of the trigger mechanism will disengage the latch members and allow the resilient means to close the closure member,

8. In apparatus of the character described, a fixed support, a carriage slidable on said support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and extending in the direction of movement of said carriage, a bar pivotally supported on the carriage, means to swing said bar about its pivot, a second shaft parallel to the rotatably supported shaft and spaced radially therefrom, means forming a crank arm connecting the shafts, and a connection between the bar and said second shaft, whereby swing of the bar will rotate the first shaft, said connection being so arranged as to permit relative axial adjustment between the bar and the second shaft.

ment discharging position, and means cooperating with the garment supporting means and the door and responsive to movement of said garment supporting means, for causing said door to close.

DANIEL J. McCARTY. 

